Making Boston greener, one tree at a time
Upcoming Events:
Watering - drop in to join us watering our 60 trees four days a week - Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5:30-6:30pm, Thursday mornings from 7:30-8:30am, and Saturdays from 9-10am.
Email wetreebostoncwo@gmail.com if you'd like to water or measure trees on your own schedule.
If you like to get your hands dirty we will be planting daffodils in early October.
Depending on weather, we will have our fall clean-up to remove the gator bags and poles and apply the solar lights.
In late November we hang wreaths along the path and then in January we will remove them.
Join us any time you are free or email us at wetreeboston@gmail.com to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did we start WE Tree Boston?
It was suggested that the West End needed more green spaces, and after surveying the entire West End, we found that adding trees would be the fastest way to turn our neighborhood green.
How can you help?
Our biggest need is always to help with watering the baby trees. We also need to measure and survey all 200+ trees that line Thoreau Path and have work days where we mulch, hang solar lights and wreaths, fix fencing and signs. And ideas on marketing and finding new grants is always welcome.
What does joining a 'watering team' require?
We have 65 trees under our care with another 15+ going in this year. Each new tree needs 15 gallons of water (3 Home Depot buckets), 1-3 times each week from Arbor Day (Apr 25) until the first freeze. We meet as a team to water them, we welcome people to join any time they are free. We will be on Thoreau Path every Thu from 7:30-8:30am and Mon and Wed from 5:30-6:30pm and again Sat from 9-10am.
Do I have to live in the West End to volunteer?
No, we have had wonderful volunteers give us advice, donate money and supplies, help us measure and tag trees, help us plant trees and more.
Why 15 gallons of water? Isn't rainwater enough?
In the West End we do not have rich soil, instead we have lots of bricks and concrete from the old West End, filled with lots of sand, so water is not retained by the trees root system. The soil is also very compacted, so rainwater often runs off before sinking into the tree's roots.
What are the species of trees being planted?
We have achieved arboretum status to help protect Thoreau Path, so we need to have at least 25 unique species. To date we have planted Dogwoods, Maples, Oaks, Gingkos, Magnolias, Sweetgums, Tulips, Cherry Trees, a Forest Pansy, Serviceberries, Redbuds, Paw Paws, Crab Apples, an Alaskan Cedar, a Japanese Maple, a White Pine and a Dawn Redwood.
How can I plant trees in my own neighborhood?
If you live in Boston, you can submit a ticket to 311 to request a tree be planted on a sidewalk near your home. If you are in an underserved neighborhood, you can contact Tree Boston to get a tree to plant. If you live outside of Boston, you should contact your town's arborist to see about getting trees planted.
